Wang, Mo

Abstract [en]

This study investigated the extent to which memories of parental rearing were related to the quality of parent and peer attachment, and whether parent and peer attachment were correlated with social anxiety feelings among 510 Chinese high school students. Memories of parental rearing were measured by the My Memories of Upbringing for Children (EMBU-C), The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) was used to assess attachment quality and social anxiety was assessed by Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) with adolescents in two age-groups. Consistent with findings from Western samples, the analyses revealed significant associations between attachment and memories of parental warm emotions as well as with memories of parental rejection. Attachment scores were related to level of social anxiety. Moreover, peer attachment was stronger associated with the adolescent¡¯s social anxiety feelings than parent attachment. However, the age differences were found across each measure scale. Furthermore, fathers showed a moderately more important role in the adolescent¡¯s social development than mothers. The findings indicate that in spite of considerable consistency with findings from Western studies, child-parent attachment in Chinese adolescents is also influenced by culture-specific practices that shape the youth-parent relationships and their meaning to the child.